Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-03-08

forgot its size in the kindlincss Of her
smile, which, moreover, showed II very
perfect set Of small, even, white teeth
Polly had pair Of pleasant dark eyes
that, when she was bit excited, looked
almost black, and she was also the pos
SCISSOR Of what the novelists call "a
wealth. Of bronze-tinteG chestnut hair
with natural clinklei in II, which no
amount Of art could have initiated. But
Polly briefly summed up her own per-
sonal appearance In one terse sentence
cred haie, frcckles and a snub-nose;"
and no amount of reasoning could con-
vince her shs was not undeniably plain
or-as she unhesitatingly affirmed
lawful homely."
II don't believe it's polite to stare Mt
ladies, even Il they can't see you" sud
denly thought Tad. And vaguely Won
dering at his own newly-awakened
sense Of propliety, Tad settled back in
his cozy nook and. pulling out his three
papers. began running over the Lost"
columns, but his search was In vain.
Watches had been lost. diamonds
stolen. gold-headed canes taken by mis-
take and pet poodles lured from their
homes-for the recovery Of each aud all
Of which rewards were offered, with the
suggestive mo questions asked, as an
extra inducement for their return.
But there was no reference in any OF
the papers to "a small alligator-skin
sachel, with nickel mountings, left by
mistake in the waiting-room Of the
Broad Street depot" or words to that
effect; and Tad began to wonder what
he had best do next. He could not adj
vertise under the head Of "Found, for
five cents was all the money Tad had
in the world; so, finally, he was forced
TO the conclusion that all he could do
was--to use his own unspoken thought
i-"to hang on spell longer"
1t was much harder TO decide what
he should do with himself. The bag
had some one to look out for it. but
there was no one to look out for Tad.
And, for the first time in his short life,
Tad felt a feeling Of something ike
homesickness creep over him.
A familiar voice on the wharf. close
to the pile OF cotton bales, aroused Tad
very suddenly from his reverie.
'lt's that Jonesl'' he excitedly ex-
claimed, though under his breath, us
be pecred down at the speaker. 1t was
indeed that ingenious gentleman, as,
lifting his hat with winning politeness,
he had accosted Miss Polly, who was
evidently impressed at such a display
Of courtesy.
'.May / ask, miss. . said Jones, call
ing up his most agreeable smile,
"whether you have seen a shabby-look-
ing boy, carrying II small alligator-skin
sachel, anywhere in this vicinity with
in half an hour?h 494ta 3As l3
"Why, ycs-hc was down here awhile
ago. but / guess he's gone up-town
again, replied Polly, wondering what
the stranger wanted Of the boy who
called himself Tad Thorne.
Mr.. Jones looked sadly disappointed
ut Polly's answer, while Tad. winking
at himself, chuckled silently. What
Mi. Jones might have said is uncer
tain, for Just then third party hove in
sight--to use u nautical phrase
Tad felt by sort OF instinct, must be
Captain Jcthro Flagg. He was a tre-
mendonsly stout man, with iron-griy
hair and a rim of white whiskers which
made sort OF halo about his fat,
wcather-beaten face. The blue shirt,
| pea-jackct, canvas trowsers, oil-skin
hatand heavy sea-boots which he wore
left no doubt as to the nature OF his
calling.
e snow, then, Ephr m, sad Captain
| Flagg, In n voice ike d trumpet with q
bad cold, as, turning about, he ad-
dressed u long-legged youth who
brought up the rear with heavy
basket, "heavc ahead lively with them
stores, my hearty, oryou won't fetch
the schooner till dimerrtime." Thus
admonished, Ephraim muttered some
thing inapdible, and, reaching the edge
of the wharf in q breathless condition,
set the basket down with a. bang,
while the, Captain greeted Miss Polly
| withn iovial wink. 9t 4t3ff
.Haven't got to putback for nothing
this time, Polly he triumphantly an
nounced, unmindful Of the presence Of
Mr.. Jones, whose distracted gaze was
I